The international community must do “all it can” to de-escalate
the violence in Gaza and Israel which has left hundreds dead and
injured, said
the UN’s political affairs chief on Tuesday, calling on all those
involved in the fighting to allow for the “intensification of
mediation efforts”, which can also help stem a growing
humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Rosemary DiCarlo was
addressing a meeting of the UN Forum on the Question of
Palestine, and noted that the UN has been “actively involved” in
mediation so far, and said the fighting involving extremist group
Hamas and Israeli forces, which has claimed the lives of more
than 200 civilians on both sides, including children, was a
“tragic reminder” of the need to find a resolution to end
conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, “once and for all.”
“In the absence of such a process, we are – regrettably – bound
to witness more episodes of tensions and desperation. People on
both sides deserve much more than that”, said Ms. DiCarlo.
She noted that the scenes of communal violence inside Israel
itself, were also “unprecedented”, saying continued escalation
there would have “devastating consequences” for all in the
region.
If the nine days of spiralling violence so far continues,
“humanitarian needs are bound to rise considerably, particularly
in Gaza, where the situation was already desperate”, she added.
Casualties rising
More than 220 people have now died in Gaza and the West Bank
since violence erupted last week with Israel, where the toll has
risen to 10 dead, UN humanitarians said earlier on Tuesday, in a
call for greater access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory and
an end to hostilities.
“Up until noon yesterday, in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian
fatalities stood at 200 at that point. In the West Bank,
Palestinian fatalities stood at 20”, said Jens Laerke from the
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at a briefing
in Geneva.
“There are combined in the West Bank and Gaza Strip more than
6,000 injured. In Israel, the casualty count tragically as well,
as of yesterday, stood at 10 total deaths and nearly 800
injured…due to Palestinian rocket attacks from highly populated
civilian neighbourhoods into civilian populations centres in
Israel.”
Nearly 60,000 people have also had to leave or flee their homes
in Gaza, the OCHA spokesperson said, with
47,000 now sheltering in UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA)
schools.
The development comes as the World Food Programme (WFP)
also warned on Tuesday that the crisis has pushed an estimated
additional 160,000 people in Gaza into food insecurity.
Houses wrecked
As of Monday, 132 buildings including 621 housing and commercial
units have been destroyed in Gaza, according to the Ministry of
Public Works and Housing. An additional 316 housing units have
been severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable, Mr. Laerke
noted.
Health care professionals and medical facilities are also in
danger, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“In the Gaza Strip, 19 health facilities have been damaged
including destruction of the Hala Al-Shawa primary healthcare
clinic”, said WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris.
“In the West Bank, 41 health workers have been injured and 21
health vehicles damaged. The severe damage to the roads and
infrastructure makes access to many of the hospitals very, very
difficult.”
Medicine shortages
Dr. Harris added that there was also a drastic lack of medicines
and materials in the Gaza Strip, with less than one month’s
supply, while physical distancing to prevent COVID-19 transmission was
“almost impossible”, amid ongoing destruction.
In addition, concerns have continued to mount over the
deteriorating situation for Gaza residents, where power is only
available for six to eight hours per day, owing to damaged feeder
lines and networks.
This has disrupted the provision of healthcare and other basic
services, including water, hygiene, and sanitation.
Crossing opening welcomed
Against this backdrop, OCHA welcomed the opening of the Kerem
Shalom crossing into Gaza for essential humanitarian supplies
nine days into the crisis.
The transit point in southern Gaza was closed eight days ago,
along with the Erez crossing in the north of Gaza, OCHA said in a
statement on Monday.
“We very much welcome the Israeli authorities’ opening of Kerem
Shalom crossing for essential humanitarian supplies, nine days
into the crisis. It is critical that the Erez crossing is also
opened for the entry and exit of critical humanitarian staff,”
said Mr. Laerke.
“In days to come, humanitarian access into and out of Gaza for
staff and goods must be sustained and appropriate measures taken
to ensure safe movements within Gaza,” the OCHA spokesperson
added.
